Footprints in the Sand, A life journey

By Alan Steelman

The footprints we leave in the sands of time are the memories held by those whose lives intersected in some way with ours. The emotional impact of each encounter can range across the entire gamut---love, joy, humor, grief, heartbreak. Each of these in this collection is inspired in some way with my own journey through life. So many who impacted my life are gone now, yet they left "footprints" which have now found their way into verse, and in that sense, they live on.

From an article in the Atlantic, "American poetry now belongs to a subculture. No longer part of the mainstream of artistic and intellectual life, it has become the specialized occupation of a relatively small and isolated group. As a class poets are not without cultural status. Like priests in a town of agnostics, they still command a certain residual prestige. But, as individual artists they are almost invisible."

In spite of the ambitious mission, I mentioned, in the introduction, of helping to move poetry back into the mainstream of the arts community, I harbor no illusions of becoming a famous poet or one known widely enough known to truly launch such a movement. Nevertheless, I hope that others who follow will pick up the mantle. My prayer is that the value of the poetic verse will once again be seen, understood, and valued by the broader public, all with life challenges and the need for an emotional outlet.

Poetry among the arts, is long overdue for a resurrection. To reclaim a place of prominence, those of us who craft the verses, with the purpose of giving voice to the feelings and emotions of the heart and soul must do so in language and phrase that is easily understood by the average reader. There are far too many other distractions and options available in this age of mass media. Paradoxically, as the number of poets, poetry journals, and academic programs have increased over the past half-century, the general readership has declined. It has been said that a "famous" poet now means someone famous only to other poets.

"Poetry has vanished as a cultural force in America. If poets venture outside their confined world, they can work to make it essential once more…..the history of art tells the same story over and over. As art forms develop, they establish conventions that guide creation, performance, instruction, even analysis. Eventually these conventions grow stale. They begin to stand between the art and its audience. Much wonderful poetry is being written, the American poetry establishment is locked into a series of exhausted conventions---outmoded ways of presenting, discussing, editing and teaching poetry." (The Atlantic, Can Poetry Matter?).

This language of the heart and soul, once given voice, provides us all a deeper understanding of life. It is voice that transcends racial and national boundaries. Oh, for the golden age once again! William Wordsworth, the English Romantic poet; Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland; Robert Frost, American and recipient of four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry; Maya Angelou, American poet, memoirist, and civil-rights activist; and James Baldwin, American novelist, essayist and poet. These giants, all prime examples of how this ancient art can have a lasting impact and inspire. Their lives and verse have touched the lives of others around the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350925708

Book preview

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© 2023 Alan Steelman All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN 979-8-35092-569-2 eBook 979-8-35092-570-8

In Praise of Footprints in the Sand

Jim Atkinson

It has been written that poetry makes life bearable. And that presents this book of poetry from a fresh, new voice, Alan Steelman, as a godsend, given the state of affairs in the world. Poetry has always occupied an odd station on the literary cross: Especially recently, it has become opaque to the masses of readers; seemingly composed to please English department colleagues and little else. This a very different book of poetry. The subjects of the poems, and the style in which they are written, touch the entire range of human emotions; and it is written in accessible language that resonates with all of us. I know you will find it both enjoyable and helpful in your own life, as I have 

Jim Atkinson was a working journalist in Texas for over 40 years. He has worked in newspapers, TV and magazines. Atkinson was founder of the popular city magazine for Dallas, D Magazine, and was a columnist for Texas Monthly for 30 years. He has won numerous awards for his writing and is the author of two books, one of which, the true crime classic, Evidence of Love, was recently the subject of two different streaming series on Hulu and HBO. He now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Roy Bode

A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated In my lifetime as a journalist, I came to believe the stories most read and best remembered were those that evoked visceral feelings of time and place with the beauty and versatility of the English Language. Newspapers weren’t the only improbable repositories of such poetic prose. American political oration was another. Politician and poet, not an oxymoron, in this case. Alan Steelman was in the U.S. Congress before consultants with poll-driven messages and teleprompters drove old-fashioned stump speeches and spontaneous debate to the brink of extinction. I’ve never asked, but I suspect he learned how to reach the heart of an audience with well-chosen words in that bygone political era. He skillfully weaves the tapestry of words and verse that is this book. It’s the essence of the poetry I truly enjoy. I believe you will also!

 CEO and founder Bar 30 Media, a successful and highly- awarded group of newspapers, magazines and websites, with its flagship recognized as Best of its Size in Texas by the state’s press association. Editor-in-Chief of the Dallas Times Herald – once one of the country’s major regional newspapers with news bureaus throughout Texas and abroad -- before being appointed Vice President for Public Affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. During his newspaper career, he worked as a reporter and editor covering Congress, national politics and the White House under three Presidents. Has appeared on Meet the Press and other television political programs, won several awards for his reporting.

Laura Castro

This is a wonderfully different book of poetry. Here’s why: In my journalism career, I learned to write clearly and about topics affecting the daily lives of readers. Most of today’s poems address the same topics that I and others deal with—love, loss, joy, grief, and heartbreak—but are written in a style and with words not easily digested. I know you will find that these poems will resonate in your own life—and be easily understandable. I am happy to recommend this book to you.

Laura Castro is a veteran journalist, university educator, media relations expert and law school graduate. She has written for the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, New York Newsday, CNN, the National Law Journal, the Dallas Morning News and the San Diego Union. She taught journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and served as the director of media relations for the University of Texas School of Law.

Krista de la Harpe

A person smiling at the camera Description automatically generated Such therapy in these rushing, anxious times, is poetry, especially those poems about the birds, trees, blue sky and water---our natural world. Alan captures the emotional impact of these moments of awe that remind us all of how interconnected we all are to the world we inhabit together. His section titled Nature Therapy, includes several inspired by my own special mission in life, promoting and protecting the White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. A historic reservoir that became one of the most serene urban parks in our country, WRL has a profound impact on all of us who go there and spend time there. I was first drawn to Alan’s poetry the first time, when I came across the one titled, Fleeing the Clock. It is here, in this collection. I know you will enjoy it and all the others, as I have.

Krista de la Harpe currently serves on the White Rock Lake Museum Board and Task Force. She is a strong community advocate for conservation of historic neighborhoods and parks, has served on the Dallas Landmark Commission. She holds a BA and MA in both International Relations and Economics from Wellesley College, and Johns Hopkins S.A.I.S. respectively. Her early career in International Business involved an array of interesting projects in South America, Europe, Western Africa, Hong Kong and the US. After settling down in Dallas she started her own consulting and design business.

Keevan Showtime Lucas

My life as both a collegiate and professional football athlete in the NFL was one of high stress and anxiety. Young athletes today have to perform on game day, then deal with all the critiquing and trolling from the media afterward. I write and read poetry as an escape from those emotions that cloud the mind. We all battle with these feelings and experiences, and many are unable to articulate these feelings. Poetry provides a vent for both the poet and the reader. Life can be overwhelming for all of us at times. So many expectations and fixations on our life goals, and feelings of despair and defeat. My friend, Alan’s book of poetry here is a valuable compendium that deals with the vast range of emotions we encounter on our daily journey. I highly recommend it to you.

Keevan Showtime Lucas: CEO 2milemovement LLC, Poet, Former NFL Philadelphia Eagle Wide-Receiver, College Football Hall of Fame, BA University of Tulsa

Amy Martin

"Alan’s poetry in the Nature Therapy section is easy on the